One for Carolyn ~

Tomstrees · February 14, 2007

We have a number of African Violets - pink ruffled flowers & reg. flowers
(Mrs. loves em - and they do really well in our North bay window) -

Here's one I've never seen sold before -
It came from the Mrs.' late great Aunt Francis -
Doesn't grow like a normal AV - Its "viney" and has these protruding red flowers - I think its a "flame" violet , but I thinks its rare because of "how she got it" ...

~ Tom

blatanna · February 16, 2007

Tomstrees,
Just wondering, could your plant be a member of the Begonia family. I am growing one that is remarkably like yours. Just a guess of course.

bcday · February 16, 2007

Tom's plant is a relative of African violets called Episcia, or Flame Violet as Tom said.

They look nice in hanging baskets and are grown more for their colorful foliage than their blossoms.

Nice plant, Tom!

Tomstrees · February 16, 2007

Thanks Bcday !

Yeah , it seldom flowers , but when it does it is exciting ~ The leaves are way more "fuzzier" than a reg. African Violet - The original plant (from where this one was borne) was in a hanging basket and grew to be more than 4 feet long dangling ~ when that thing bloomed I tell ya , really lites up the room !

I do have an odd ball Begonia that sends up 1 or 2 branches sometimes that has white flowers on it but they look orchid like ~ I've been really wondering what that one is , as it came from a "lobby plant" in a hotel I stayed at in Maine - just a little piece (one leaf) grew into a really cool plant ~

Tom

ps.
will try to snap photos soon, as its about to send up another one of those flower stems !

amideutch · February 21, 2007

Aha, A Plant Pirate.

In fact I have a book on that subject. Ami

**carolyn137** · February 21, 2007

I'm finally catching up Tom and took a look and agree with bcday on the ID.

Since I'm switching back to growing perennials and roses I've decided I also have to get back to growing African Violets and Columneas and Sinningias under lights.

The problem is, I do the crosses and wait for the seed pods and then sow the seeds of one pod and there are hundreds of seedlings that come up.

And being a compassionate plant person I just couldn't kill them, so I'd transplant almost every darn one.

Then I'd haul them into work and give them away to students and faculty alike.

Being older now, I'll be more selective in what I do grow in the Gesneriad group, which is wonderfully adaptable to artificial light growing.

Right now I'm waiting for all the catalogs to come in that I've requested online.

Having spent several hundreds of dollars already for my starter sized perennial plants, without even ordering my roses yet, or my hostas or shrubs, methinks I'm in deep deep trouble here, re what's called money.

But what the heck, I'll be 68 in June, you all can send roses,

, and my mobility is shot and so growing primarily fragrant flowers is what I want to have done, b'c for sure I can't get out there and do it, but folks can cut them and bring them in for me.

My fave fragrant ones are heirloom dianthuses, peonies, roses, certain daylilies, mums, yes, I love the smell, and quite a few others.

Tomstrees · February 22, 2007

Here are a couple other AV that have just finished / started blooming:

~ Tom

dcarch · February 22, 2007

I remember having grown (long long time ago) a micro variety of African Violets. Very cute. Has anyone try those?

dcarch

Tomstrees · February 22, 2007

I haven't grown one Dcarch - but sounds really cool - I don't think I've even seen one ~

Tom

February 14, 2007	#1
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	One for Carolyn ~ We have a number of African Violets - pink ruffled flowers & reg. flowers (Mrs. loves em - and they do really well in our North bay window) - Here's one I've never seen sold before - It came from the Mrs.' late great Aunt Francis - Doesn't grow like a normal AV - Its "viney" and has these protruding red flowers - I think its a "flame" violet , but I thinks its rare because of "how she got it" ... ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 16, 2007	#2
blatanna Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 150	African Violet Tomstrees, Just wondering, could your plant be a member of the Begonia family. I am growing one that is remarkably like yours. Just a guess of course. __________________ Blatanna

February 16, 2007	#4
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Thanks Bcday ! Yeah , it seldom flowers , but when it does it is exciting ~ The leaves are way more "fuzzier" than a reg. African Violet - The original plant (from where this one was borne) was in a hanging basket and grew to be more than 4 feet long dangling ~ when that thing bloomed I tell ya , really lites up the room ! I do have an odd ball Begonia that sends up 1 or 2 branches sometimes that has white flowers on it but they look orchid like ~ I've been really wondering what that one is , as it came from a "lobby plant" in a hotel I stayed at in Maine - just a little piece (one leaf) grew into a really cool plant ~ Tom ps. will try to snap photos soon, as its about to send up another one of those flower stems ! __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 21, 2007	#6
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I'm finally catching up Tom and took a look and agree with bcday on the ID. Since I'm switching back to growing perennials and roses I've decided I also have to get back to growing African Violets and Columneas and Sinningias under lights. The problem is, I do the crosses and wait for the seed pods and then sow the seeds of one pod and there are hundreds of seedlings that come up. And being a compassionate plant person I just couldn't kill them, so I'd transplant almost every darn one. Then I'd haul them into work and give them away to students and faculty alike. Being older now, I'll be more selective in what I do grow in the Gesneriad group, which is wonderfully adaptable to artificial light growing. Right now I'm waiting for all the catalogs to come in that I've requested online. Having spent several hundreds of dollars already for my starter sized perennial plants, without even ordering my roses yet, or my hostas or shrubs, methinks I'm in deep deep trouble here, re what's called money. But what the heck, I'll be 68 in June, you all can send roses, , and my mobility is shot and so growing primarily fragrant flowers is what I want to have done, b'c for sure I can't get out there and do it, but folks can cut them and bring them in for me. My fave fragrant ones are heirloom dianthuses, peonies, roses, certain daylilies, mums, yes, I love the smell, and quite a few others. __________________ Carolyn

February 22, 2007	#7
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Here are a couple other AV that have just finished / started blooming: ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

February 16, 2007	#3
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	Tom's plant is a relative of African violets called Episcia, or Flame Violet as Tom said. They look nice in hanging baskets and are grown more for their colorful foliage than their blossoms. Nice plant, Tom!

February 21, 2007	#5
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Aha, A Plant Pirate. In fact I have a book on that subject. Ami

February 22, 2007	#8
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	I remember having grown (long long time ago) a micro variety of African Violets. Very cute. Has anyone try those? dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato